11/13/2025 - Empire Village | Regular Meeting Minutes

Summary

The Empire Village Council held a meeting on November 13, 2025, where several key decisions were made, including approving new motions related to infrastructure, zoning issues, and the removal of a streetlight. The council also discussed the upcoming committee on property matters and reached a consensus on adding relevant items to their December agenda.

Public comments

There were no public comments during the agenda items, but a few questions were addressed during the public comment segment. One inquiry related to the streetlight removal procedure, which was clarified to follow Consumers Energy policy after a year of the light being turned off. Another question about zoning violations was discussed, indicating a lack of permission for certain storage and the absence of an operating business, prompting a permit violation.

Infrastructure projects

The council discussed two specific infrastructure projects: 1. **Water Ordinance**: A motion was approved to send the proposed water ordinance with noted corrections to the attorney for review. Specific concerns were raised regarding the approval process for private wells. 2. **Streetlight Removal**: The council approved the removal of a streetlight at 10099 Aylsworth with a maximum cost of $1200, which had received no objections from relevant local departments.

Other Business

The council discussed the establishment of a Township and Village Committee on a property on Benzonia Rd., which will convene after the holidays, and decided to add this item to the December agenda. They also addressed the need for legal consultation on two zoning issues affecting property south of the Village Office.

Financial Summary

The consent agenda was approved, which included bills totaling $6,889.21. Additionally, during the infrastructure discussion, $30,000 was identified for infrastructure adjustments under Parks in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Action Items

1. Acton will send the current Water Ordinance to the attorney for suggested replacements based on council feedback. 2. The Capital Improvement Plan is to be scheduled for approval at the December meeting. 3. The newly formed committee on the Benzonia Rd. property will be discussed in December, and the council will seek a legal opinion on zoning issues affecting adjacent properties.